Extraction of Common Bile Duct Stones Refractory to Mechanical Lithotripsy Using Extracorporeal Shock Wave Lithotripsy

Abstract

The standard treatment for choledocholithiasis is to remove the stones by performing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). With various techniques such as basket extraction, balloon catheter extraction, mechanical lithotripsy, followed by endoscopic papillary sphincterotomy or endoscopic papillary balloon dilatation, the success rate of stone extraction is known to be over 90%. However, stone extraction can fail in cases with large common bile duct stones or biliary stricture. We report a case of impacted choledocholithiasis after conventional ERCP and mechanical lithotripsy treated with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.